Chapter 5 – THE FATHER’S SINS

I pushed Isabella behind me, gripping the heavy silver pocket watch in my hand.

Richard Vance wasn’t a large man, but he carried the quiet, terrifying confidence of someone who had spent decades destroying lives without ever getting his hands dirty.

“Give me the watch, Claire,” he said, his voice calm and polite.

“Move out of the way,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady.

He chuckled, taking a slow step forward. “You’re a brave girl. But bravery doesn’t pay your mother’s property taxes, does it?”

My breath caught.

He knew.

“Eleanor told me about your little financial situation,” Richard continued, pulling a cigar cutter from his pocket and idly spinning it. “I can make those taxes disappear. Forever. I can set you up in a very comfortable life. All you have to do is hand me the watch, and tell Luca that the little girl ran away because she was overwhelmed.”

“And what happens to Caroline?” I asked.

Richard sighed. “Caroline is a complication. She’ll leave tonight, with Isabella, or things will get very unpleasant for Luca’s business.”

He stopped spinning the cutter. He looked directly into my eyes.

“Hand it over.”

I looked at the silver watch. Then I felt Isabella’s small, trembling hands clutching the back of my apron.

Vivian had threatened my paycheck.

Richard was threatening my family.

But as I stood there in the dark hallway, I realized something. If I let this man win, Isabella would spend the rest of her life running from shadows.

“Mr. Vance,” I said quietly.

“Yes, Claire?”

“You’re right. I’m just a maid.”

I raised my arm and hurled the heavy silver pocket watch straight through the massive glass window of the East Wing.

CRASH.

The sound of shattering glass echoed like a gunshot through the silent estate.

Richard Vance flinched, raising his arms to shield his face from the falling shards.

“Run!” I screamed, shoving Isabella down the hall.

We sprinted back toward the main foyer. Behind us, I heard Richard cursing, his heavy footsteps echoing on the hardwood floor.

We burst through the double doors into the main hallway just as Luca, Caroline, and three security guards came running around the corner.

Isabella threw herself into her father’s arms.

Luca caught her, dropping to his knees, burying his face in her neck. “I’ve got you,” he choked out. “I’ve got you.”

Caroline fell beside them, wrapping her arms around both of them.

I stood panting, leaning against the wall.

A moment later, Richard Vance casually walked through the double doors, brushing a piece of broken glass off his tuxedo jacket.

Luca slowly stood up.

He looked at Richard. Then he looked at the shattered glass on my apron.

“What happened, Claire?” Luca asked. His voice was deathly calm.

“He tried to take Isabella,” I said, my chest heaving. “He’s the one who threatened her four years ago, sir. He dropped his pocket watch when he grabbed her tonight. I threw it through the window to alert you.”

Richard gave a condescending laugh. “Luca, please. The maid is hysterical. I was simply trying to help find the child—”

Luca didn’t let him finish.

He closed the distance between them in two massive strides and drove his fist directly into Richard Vance’s jaw.

The older man crumpled to the floor instantly.

The security guards didn’t move to help him.

Luca stood over the unconscious man, breathing heavily. He looked like the ruthless businessman the city feared.

“Lock him in the study,” Luca ordered the guards. “Call the police. Tell them we have a home invader.”

As the guards dragged Richard away, Eleanor Vance rushed down the stairs, still wearing her elegant engagement dress.

“Daddy!” she screamed, seeing them pull her father away. She turned on Luca. “What are you doing?!”

Luca looked at his fiancée.

“The wedding is off, Eleanor,” he said coldly.

Eleanor froze. “Luca, you can’t do this. If you break this engagement, my father will destroy your company. He holds the debt!”

“Let him try,” Luca said.

He turned his back on her and walked over to Caroline and Isabella.

He reached out and gently cupped Caroline’s face. She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes as fresh tears fell.

“I’m so sorry,” Luca whispered. “I am so damn sorry.”

I watched them, a small smile touching my lips. They were finally together.

But then, Vivian stepped out from the shadows of the staircase.

She looked at the reunited family, her face a mask of bitter desperation.

“It’s not over, Luca,” Vivian said, her voice shaking.

Luca turned. “It is over, Vivian. Pack your things. You’re leaving.”

Vivian pulled a small, brass key from her pocket.

“If I leave,” she said softly, “I’m taking the lockbox with me. And Caroline will never find out who really forced her out of that car the night she left.”

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